Nowadays, the knowledge of the marine ecological quality status of an environment is essential and soft-bottom macrobenthos is one of the indicators used. Studies of soft-bottom macrobenthos are time ... [more ▼]

Nowadays, the knowledge of the marine ecological quality status of an environment is essential and soft-bottom macrobenthos is one of the indicators used. Studies of soft-bottom macrobenthos are time consuming and need expertise for organisms’ identification. Simplifications of these studies are tried and Taxonomic Sufficiency (TS) proposed by Ellis (1985) is one of research axes. For example, some studies highlight that family level identification could be sufficient to identify perturbed area (e.g: Bacci et al., 2009; De-La-Ossa-Carretero et al., 2012; Forde et al., 2013). Nevertheless, identification at species level could be recommended to have more precise information about the existing situation (Ajmal Khan, 2006) or to complete information from others levels (Conde et al., 2013). In Corsican waters where human impacts are less important than in main land waters, we present TS based on STARESO research studies between 2006 and 2012. This work is within the frameworks of the STARE-CAPMED program dedicated to STAtion of Reference and rEsearch on Change of local and global Anthropogenic Pressures on Mediterranean Ecosystem Drifts. After Permanova analysis and Canonical analysis of principal coordinates, eight habitat types have been identified along Corsican coastal water. Their own reference conditions and ecological class boundaries have been evaluated. Those reference conditions and ecological status have been identified for species, genus and family level. A highly significant correlation of calculated values between species and genus levels (R²=0.93) has been determined and a significant correlation between species and family level (R²=0.75). Genus and family levels have a significant Spearman correlation with species level (p<0.05). An application of these reference conditions on the macrobenthos assemblages sampling on 14 stations in spring 2011 and late summer 2012 in Calvi Bay highlights areas with high, good or moderate ecological status. In conclusion, family level is sufficient to follow spatial and/or temporal ecological status. [less ▲]

STARE-CAPMED is a research program set up by the Stareso research station (Calvi, Corsica). Its aim is to improve the understanding of processes by which anthropogenic activities have adversed effects on ... [more ▼]

STARE-CAPMED is a research program set up by the Stareso research station (Calvi, Corsica). Its aim is to improve the understanding of processes by which anthropogenic activities have adversed effects on the functioning of Calvi Bay coastal ecosystems. One of its work packages is the monitoring of soft-bottom macrobenthos along 5 gradients of potential anthropogenic pressures. First results suggest that, before summer (summer is the period where man-driven impacts are expected to be stronger due to high tourist frequentation) these sources of potential anthropogenic pressures perturb soft-bottom macrobenthos assemblages. [less ▲]

Sorting of soft-­bottom macrobenthos entangled with Posidonia oceanica fibers is time-consuming and tedious because of the weak of colour contrast . This paper describes a staining ... [more ▼]

Sorting of soft-­bottom macrobenthos entangled with Posidonia oceanica fibers is time-consuming and tedious because of the weak of colour contrast . This paper describes a staining-­destaining technique that produces good contrast between soft-­bottom macrobenthos and Posidonia oceanica fibers. The method has been tested on Corsican samples in oligotrophic areas characterized by small-size soft-bottom macrofauna. Our technique saves sorting time (-24%) and is simple to implement. [less ▲]

Acoustic telemetry was used to record diel movement and habitat utilization of the salema (Sarpa salpa) (Teleostei: Sparidae) during three consecutive summers from 2000 to 2002 in the Calvi and Achiarina ... [more ▼]

Acoustic telemetry was used to record diel movement and habitat utilization of the salema (Sarpa salpa) (Teleostei: Sparidae) during three consecutive summers from 2000 to 2002 in the Calvi and Achiarina bays of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea. A total of 18 fish was equipped with acoustic transmitters inserted in the body cavity, 13 were tracked in the Bay of Calvi (275 mm +/- 26.9 L-F), and 5 in Achiarina Bay (260 mm +/- 33.6 LF). Two different systems were used to track the fish. The one used in the Bay of Calvi was a manual receiver and a directional hydrophone. The second system, used in Achiarina Bay, was a radioacoustic-positioning (RAP) system that continuously monitored the movements of the fish. Fish positions were put in a geographic information system (GIS) with information on the substratum and depth. Two patterns of behaviour could be identified in the three years. Either the fish had clearly defined daytime as opposed to night-time areas of residency, characterized by different depths and substrata or the fish persistently occupied the same sites during both day and night. In the Bay of Calvi, six fish were released I km from the capture site. All of them showed homing ability and returned to the site within 48 h. [less ▲]

Two transmitter masses (2 and 6% of the fish's mass) were selected to examine the interference of tags with the behaviour of Sarpa salpa using a computerized video tracking system based on digital imaging ... [more ▼]

Two transmitter masses (2 and 6% of the fish's mass) were selected to examine the interference of tags with the behaviour of Sarpa salpa using a computerized video tracking system based on digital imaging techniques. The study demonstrated that light transmitters had no effect on the behavioural variables studied, and a substantial bias in behaviour is introduced if heavier (6%) tags are used. (c) 2005 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles. [less ▲]